Memphis 901 FC travels to Connecticut to put their six-match unbeaten streak on the line against Eastern Conference foe Hartford Athletic on Saturday, May 6 at 6 p.m. CT.
The Beale St. Boys will do battle at Trinity Health Stadium with a strong run of form that’s seen the club knock off Atlanta United FC in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup and nearly defeat a strong Louisville City FC side if not for a controversial offside call erasing a Phillip Goodrum game winner.
901 FC will live with the one point in a 1-1 draw featuring a goal from standout winger Luiz Fernando, who has played a part in goals in each of his last four appearances with two goals and two assists.
Hartford enters Saturday’s match looking to rebound from a 3-2 loss at Birmingham in which the visitors conceded the winning goal in the 93rd minute to lose points.
Phillip Goodrum and company will find a familiar face in the Hartford back line as former 901 FC defender Niall Logue. Logue appeared in 47 matches for Memphis from 2021-2022 before moving to Hartford this offseason.
Fans can watch Saturday’s match on ESPN+ and WMC Bounce 5.2 locally. Memphis 901 FC will face rival Birmingham Legion FC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday before returning to AutoZone Park to host Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, May 13.
The Ultimate Wingman
Winger Luiz Fernando has contributed to goals in each of the club’s last four matches across the USL Championship and U.S. Open Cup with two goals and two assists. Fernando scored the equalizer in Saturday’s draw vs. Louisville and assisted on the game winner vs. Atlanta.
The Brazilian winger scored four goals and six assists in 30 appearances in 2022.
Chances on Chances on Chances
Aaron Molloy leads the USL Championship in chances created and crosses, serving as the primary kick taker and captain on the pitch in the absence of Leston Paul due to injury. The Irish international has played every minute of action for 901 FC in 2023.
Molloy led the team with a franchise-record 10 assists last season on his way to finishing runner up in USL Championship MVP voting.
Chances Created Leaderboard:
- Aaron Molloy – 26
- Rodrigo Lopez – 21
- Jack Gurr – 18
The Kid is Cooking
Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. Serving primarily as a reserve deployed as a closer near the end of games, Pickering has put away two goals in just 52 minutes on the pitch. The 18-year-old striker most recently scored the game winning goal over Atlanta United in extra time.
Pickering scored two goals seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.
On the Come Up
After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last six matches across the USL Championship and U.S. Open Cup, including a 2-1 comeback victory over Atlanta United FC in the third round of the open cup. It was the first victory over an MLS side in club history and earned 901 FC a date with rival Birmingham Legion FC in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, May 10.
Electric Attack
Memphis leads the USL Championship in shots per 90 minutes and are top-five in expected goals per 90 and final third entries.
Shots per 90 Leaderboard
- Memphis – 14.83
- Sacramento – 14.25
- San Antonino – 13.25
